Artificial intelligence (AI) is fast becoming the “key technology of the future”. But what exactly do we mean by “AI” and how does it affect our daily lives?
Artificial intelligence: definition
AI refers to the possibility for a machine to reproduce human-related behaviors, such as reasoning, planning and creativity.
AI allows technical systems to perceive their environment, manage these perceptions, solve problems and take actions to achieve a specific goal. The computer receives data (already prepared or collected via its sensors – a camera, for example) analyzes them and reacts.
Systems with AI are able to adapt their behaviors (more or less) by analyzing the effects produced by their previous actions, working autonomously.
Why is AI important?
Some technologies associated with AI have been around for more than 50 years, but advances in computing power, access to large amounts of data and the development of new algorithms have led to major breakthroughs in the field of AI. IA over the past few years.
Artificial intelligence is considered a central element of society’s digital transition and has become a priority for the EU .
Future applications of AI are expected to lead to huge changes – but it is already playing a role in our daily lives.
Learn more about the opportunities of AI and how the European Parliament wants to shape AI legislation .
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Software: virtual assistants, image analysis software, search engines, facial and voice recognition systems
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Embodied AI: robots, self-driving cars, drones, the Internet of Things
Everyday AI
Here are some examples of daily use of AI that you may have missed:
Online shopping and advertising
Artificial intelligence is frequently used when providing personalized recommendations to users, based (for example) on their search or purchase history or on their online behavior. AI is of great importance in the world of commerce – it allows to improve products, better manage inventory and logistics, etc.
Online research
Search engines are evolving as they ingest a massive flood of user-supplied data to provide them with more relevant results.
Personal digital assistants
Smartphones use AI to deliver a product that is as relevant and relevant as possible. Virtual assistants (now ubiquitous) answer questions, provide recommendations, and help manage day-to-day tasks.
Automatic translation
Translation software, based on written or spoken language, relies on artificial intelligence to provide ever-improving translations. This approach also applies when automatically generating subtitles.
Connected homes, cities and infrastructure
Some thermostats analyze our behavior to better save energy, while urban planners in connected cities hope to reduce congestion and better manage traffic.
Cars
While autonomous vehicles have yet to become the norm, our cars are already using AI-based safety features. For example, the EU has supported funding for VI-DAS , automatic sensors that detect potentially dangerous situations and accidents.
The operation of navigation systems relies heavily on AI.
Cybersecurity
AI-enabled systems can help detect and combat cyberattacks and other threats, using the continuous stream of data to spot patterns and trace attacks to their source.
AI against Covid-19
AI makes it possible to fight against Covid-19 , by using it in airports during the production of thermal images as well as in other cases. In the medical field, AI can detect infection by when patients’ lungs are subjected to computed tomography. It also made it possible to collect data in order to follow the evolution of infections.
The fight against fake news
AI helps detect fake news and cases of misinformation by scanning social media content for keywords or scaremongering terms, identifying sources that can be considered trustworthy.
Learn more about how MPs want to shape data legislation to drive innovation and ensure security.
Other examples of using artificial intelligence
AI is set to transform almost every aspect of our daily lives and the economy in general. Here are some examples.
Health
Researchers are studying how to use AI to analyze huge amounts of health-related data to spot recurring patterns that would lead to new discoveries and ways to improve individual diagnoses.
Here’s an illustration: Researchers have developed an AI program that responds to emergency calls that should detect cases of cardiac arrest during the call faster and more frequently than a medical dispatcher. Another example is the EU co-funded project, KConnect , which develops multilingual text and search services that help people find the medical information best suited to their needs.
Transportation
AI could help improve the safety, speed and efficiency of rail transport by reducing wheel friction, increasing journey speeds and promoting autonomous driving.
Manufacturing
AI can help European manufacturers improve their efficiency and relocate factories in Europe by employing robots during the manufacturing process or by accurately predicting maintenance and breakdowns in connected factories.
The SatisFactory project , co-funded by the EU, uses collaborative and augmented reality systems to increase well-being at work in connected factories.
Food and agriculture
AI can be used when building a sustainable food system in the EU : it can ensure the availability of healthier food by reducing the use of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation. It can also increase the productivity rate and reduce the climate impact. Robots could remove weeds and therefore reduce the use of pesticides, for example.
Many farms across the EU are already using AI to monitor their animals’ movements, body temperature and food consumption.
Public administration and services
By using a wide range of data and employing pattern recognition, AI could provide early warnings of natural disasters and enable better preparedness and fallout management.
